Family PUFFINID/AS. 
GREAT SHEARWATER. Puffinus gravis (O'Reilly). 
Coloured Figures.—Gould, ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ vol. v, pl. 83 ; 
Dresser, ‘Birds of Europe,’ vol. viii, pl. 616, fig. 2; 
Lilford, ‘ Coloured Figures,’ vol. vi, pl. 58. 
The Shearwaters, like the Petrels, are oceanic in their 
distribution, and though often occurring not far from the 
coast, they very seldom land except at their nesting- 
haunts. 
The Great Shearwater may be regarded as almost an 
annual autumnal visitor in varying numbers to the waters 
of the south coast of England, while it occurs more sparingly 
and less regularly off the east side. 
Among recent captures may be mentioned a bird shot at 
Lowestoft, in November, 1898 (A. Patterson, ‘ Zoologist,’ 
1901); and another, a male, obtained on November 27th, 
1902, near the mouth of the River Welland in Lincolnshire 
(F. L. Blathwayt, ‘ Zoologist,’ 1903). 
There are several recorded occurrences from Scotland, 
among which may be mentioned two specimens which were 
picked up dead ; one in Skye, by the late Rev. H. A. Mac- 
pherson, July 13th, 1885; the other in Barra, July, 1899. 
In 1894, Professor Newton and Mr. Henry Evans observed 
about thirty to forty pairs between the Butt of Lewis and 
North Rona; and numbers were seen in June, 1895, be- 
tween Barra and St. Kilda (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1900). 
The Great Shearwater 1s a rather uncertain visitor to 
the Irish coast; it has been noticed chiefly about the South 
and West, and in autumn, but it has occurred in spring and 
summer. Most observations have been made from passing 
vessels, while a few birds have been taken on baited hooks, 
and two have been washed ashore dead (Ussher). A 
specimen caught alive in August, 1835, off Dungarvan, co. 
Waterford, appears to be the earliest recorded occurrence 
